Balbhadra and the orphan

The impossible for Balbhadra was always possible. People said of him, “he has the shine of a chakravartin raja (a world emperor).” But Balbhadra was no king. The idea of weapons and violence that came with rulership frightened him. He wanted to conquer only with ahimsa. He was a Jain. He used to travel a lot by foot to understand the world. He loved rivers and lakes and made his home by waterside hamlets. He loved huts for the echoes and deep silences. Once Balbhadra came by an orphan who lived alone by the riverside. Balbhadra adopted this orphan and gave him the name Lakshminath. He taught Lakshminath how to read and write. He taught Lakshminath all about the principles of truth, ahimsa and dharma. When Lakshminath grew up he set up an orphanage for other orphans like him. Lakshminath cared for Balbhadra when he was old. This way the good are always cared for in this world.